PATH marks completion of 340-car order
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefPATH officials Monday hosted a ceremonial ride employing the final seven PA-5 rapid transit cars of a 340-car delivered by Kawasaki Rail Car Corp. to the bistate agency. The cars replace earlier equipment in service since the 1980s, with some gear dating back to the 1960s, officials said.
After traveling from Journal Square Station in Jersey City to Hoboken, N.J., a brief press conference took place. Bill Baroni, deputy executive director of PATH’s parent, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, reaffirmed PATH as “a vital and critical link for transportation and economic development in New York and New Jersey,” which now carries 267,000 riders per weekday, or about 74 million riders per year.
Baroni praised PATH General Manager Mike DePallo for overseeing the $499 million car order and the overall modernization of PATH infrastructure, which includes $400 million in signaling upgrades. DePallo told Railway Age implementation of Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) indeed was next on PATH’s priority list.
Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer called PATH “a lifeline to our community,” noting that 56% of city residents used public transit, with most of those including PATH as part of their travel.
PATH still awaits fulfillment of an add-on order of 10 PA-5 cars from Kawasaki, made by the PA in late 2010.
